Want a more equal society? Be careful what you wish for February 14, 2017 Consider this thought experiment. You have been transported back to 1912 and have the power to change the course of history. You foresee a century ravaged by the effects of two catastrophic World Wars, with a resulting 100m casualties. You also know the effects of violent communist revolution and rule, with a death toll almost [...]
Older people must shoulder their share of government spending cuts February 14, 2017 Given general improvements in technology and prosperity, younger generations should, in theory, always be better off than their parents. But with pensioner households now earning more than their working age equivalents, according to a new report from the Resolution Foundation, this can no longer be taken for granted. It is of course good news that older [...]
An open and immigrant-friendly UK can stay in the top 10 as the world economy doubles in size by 2050 says a new report February 7, 2017 The world economy is set to double in size by 2050, with the UK hanging on to a spot in the top 10 if it can forge successful new trading links and an open attitude to immigration after Brexit, according to a new report. The UK will fall one place in terms of purchasing power [...]
Green belt reform drops off the agenda as ministers issue long-awaited housing proposals February 6, 2017 Ministers have steered away from a liberalisation of building on so-called green belt land, despite acknowledging the worsening housing crisis in many parts of the country. The government had been expected to introduce reforms to free up protected land, but proposals released today after months of delay have instead abandoned any reference to easing restrictions. Instead, [...]
Whisper it, but Britain may be about to get a housing policy fit for the crisis we actually face February 3, 2017 A quiet, but very optimistic, cheer for the communities secretary Sajid Javid. Many politicians use the UK’s cost of living crisis as a talking point, but Javid’s blueprint for a new housing policy – set to be fully published next week – looks like it was designed to actually start tackling it in a meaningful [...]
Retailers slash 84,000 jobs amid storm of rising costs and fierce competition January 26, 2017 Retailer shed an estimated 84,000 jobs in the final quarter of 2016 as the industry heads for what could be a “more profound” shake-out than it experienced after the financial crisis. New figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) show the number of jobs in the sector fell three per cent year-on-year in the final [...]
Why a Singapore-style London would be run by Jeremy Corbyn January 13, 2017 Occasionally, highly educated Londoners half-jokingly, half-wistfully suggest the city should declare independence from the rest of the country. They really mean independence from provincial England, whose values and political priorities they abhor. They aspire to live in a city friendly to business and the successful – an open-minded city, open to the world. Would they [...]
Retailers will need to brave fierce headwinds in 2017 January 2, 2017 The high street's cold snap over Christmas and the New Year is not just seasonal. Several chills running through the sector could finally be felt with their full force in 2017. Rising inflation, falling wage growth, escalating costs and sterling's depreciation are all expected to weigh on retailers in the coming months. If inflation takes [...]
Here’s how much London’s Airbnb hosts will make on New Year’s Eve December 29, 2016 If you've already made your New Year's resolutions, here's one to add to your list: put your home on Airbnb. Figures by the company have suggested Londoners will make a whopping £17m this New Year's eve. The 2m people the service expects to find beds for is a 1,400-fold rise from New Year's Eve in 2009. [...]
The FA’s background checks for new coaches are necessary – but don’t expect them to rid organisation of scandal December 22, 2016 Now the blushes have subsided following Sam Allardyce's brief reign as England manager, brought to an end after just 67 days when he was recorded having "inappropriate" conversations about third-party ownership rules, the Football Association will appoint external companies to carry out background checks on all prospective employees. Forensic questionnaires that dig into applicants' private [...]